A divine appointment at Dunkin' Donuts

I went to Dunkin' Donuts today to read my Bible without interruption. I bought a latte and snagged a table. As an afterthought (and in contradiction to my original purpose) I asked the Lord for a divine appointment. Soon a man walked in and set his gloves on the table near me. I happened to look up at him, and caught his eye for just a split second too long. Then, delivering what must have sounded for all the world like a pick-up line, I said, "Isn't your name Terry?" (Because he looked a lot like a former church member by that name.)

That was the end of my getaway. "Paul" asked me what I was reading, and I told him it was the Bible. He looked at his table and said it was too high, so I offered the empty chair at my lower one. Then began an exchange reminiscent of the Mad Hatter's birthday party, with rapid-fire references to Edgar Cayce and Stephen Hawking and Nostradamus, and napkin drawings of the famous bumper-sticker fish-with feet. I couldn't get a word in, so I gave up and just listened.

After some time my daughter phoned with a need, so I had to draw the conversation to a close and told Paul that I believed in Jesus Christ as my Savior. At that point he said he did, too, though I have to say that Jesus was about the only name he hadn't hurled at me.

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I did get my Bible time an hour later at home, and happened to read the following:

"Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:10-11).

My coffee companion had finally gotten around to mentioning Jesus. But, boy, what a lot of names to sift through before we got there. True spiritual life starts simple-and should continue simple. We must not move from, or "graduate" from, the simplicity of Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:3). We must be careful how we build on the foundation: Jesus is the foundation and the first floor, and the second story and the attic.

I don't know where this Terry look-alike was really coming from-or leading to-but I think the gospel is supposed to be sharp and clear. After all, you may only get five minutes with your next appointment at Dunkin' Donuts.

Andrée Seu

Andrée is the author of three books: Won't Let You Go Unless You Bless Me, Normal Kingdom Business, and We Shall Have Spring Again.